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THE HOUSE OF LOVE 



The House of Love 



BY 

Will D. Muse 




THE CORNHILL COMPANY 
BOSTON 






Copyright, 1920, 

by 

The Cornhill Company 



©CIA566668 

h9\i Z3 iB20 



TO HER 

Whose faith and prayers have followed 
me wherever my wandering foot- 
steps went, and whose tears have 
watered the burning desert 
of my soul — this volume 
of verse is 
dedicated. 

MY MOTHER 



INTRODUCTION 

In every life there is a long, long night of waiting, 
yet somewhere, it may be beyond the reach of human sight, 
there always shines the Star op Hope against the 
purple robe of darkness, and sometime, somewhere, its 
gleam will fall across life's pathway, and while it shines 
the heart shall forget its sorrow and disappointment in 
the wordless joy of love and fulfillment. 

Feet may grow weary, hands may be tired of holding 
the tangled skein of life, and shoulders may ache beneath 
the burden of the slow-dragging days ; but there is a road, 
a road that never turns back, leading on and on through 
all the days of endless waiting, and all the nights of 
tortured sleep. A road ever winding beneath the twilight 
skies, and ever lighted by the sunset's crimson gleams. 

It is the road that leads to The House of Love. 

"For, out through the years that are ever thralling, 

And up to the gates of Heaven above. 
There is just one path that is calling, calling. 

It's the path that leads to The House of Love." 

—From *'The Only Road" 

HILLS 0' HOPE. 



CONTENTS 



The House of Love 

Unanswered 

The Wall Is High 

My World 

Dream Magic 

The Apple Blossom World 

It's Wonderful to Hope With You 

The Land of Dreams . 

Where the Firelight Gleams 

The Open Gate 

Laughter and Tears 

When You Need Me 

Denial .... 

April .... 

Pay Dirt 

The Weaving of Dreams 

My Guest 

The Voice of You 

— But Not to Keep 

Unafraid 

Where the Trail Divides 

Pals .... 

Drifting 

Closed Gates 

When the World is Calling 

Secluded Ways 

The Valley of Yesterday 

Life's Springtime 

To-day .... 

Nanette 

The Garden Wall 

Gypsy Love Song 

The Ending of the Trail 

Ma! .... 

Bill and Me . 



Page 

1 

2 

. 3 

4 

5 

. 7 

. 9 

. 10 

, 11 

, 12 

, 13 

, 14 

, 15 

, 16 

, 18 

21 

23 

24 

26 

27 

28 

80 

32 

33 

34 

3o 

36 

37 

38 

39 

41 

42 

44 

46 

60 



Heclamation 






. 53 


Savaran .... 






. 55 


Calling For You 






. 56 


The Battle .... 






. 57 


Because .... 






. 59 


When You Have Gone Away 






. 60 


Life's Treasures . 






. 61 


What's the Use op Sighing 






. 62 


I Miss You . . . . 






. 63 


"Our Yesterdays" 






. 64 


Be Satisfied 






. 65 


If You Only Smile 






. 67 


The Star of Hope 






. 68 


World-Wise .... 






. 69 


Loyalty .... 






. 70 


Life's Broken Toys 






. 71 


Where Footprints Never Turn ] 


Back 




. 73 


The Rainbow's End 






. 75 


World's End 






. 77 


Just You .... 






. 78 


Tennessee .... 






. 79 


Over the Tea-cups 






. 81 


Faith ..... 






. 82 


The Nowhere Land 






. 83 


Life's Simple Things 






. 85 


Robert O'Brien , . , . 






. 87 


Parted Ways . . . . 






. 89 


Just For Fun . . . , 






. 90 


Why Don't You Come? 






91 


Somewhere! Somehow! Sometime 






. 92 



THE HOUSE OF LOVE 



The House of Love 



THE HOUSE OF LOVE 

There's a little house at the very end 

Of the roads that wind, and wind, 
A little house where the roses bend, 

A home that my tired feet find; 
It's the House of Love with its open door. 

Where the candle of hope e'er gleams, 
Where the heart can rest and grieve no more, 

With the best of life's long dreams. 

It's a little house with eaves hung low. 

And its dear door open wide; 
Where a voice sings low in the flickering glow 

Of a wondrously bright hearth-side; 
It's a place where hearts are ever true. 

No matter if hands must fail ; 
Where dear lips cling in the dusk and dew, 

It's the end of the winding trail. 



2 HOUSE OF LOVE 

UNANSWERED 

Oh ! how I wish you could answer, tonight, 

The cry of my heart in its wild demands, 
Bringing the joy and the old delight. 

Touching my face with your beautiful hands; 
Somehow, it seems that long years have passed, 

Since I held you, and kissed you, my dear. 
Yet we still wonder if, somewhere, at last 

There are not hands to dry every tear? 

Alone, by the hearth where the ashes are gray, 

I've waited and watched, and wanted you so. 
Bitter the cup to my lips, as I pray. 

Waiting, and watching — ^though you never 
know. 
Cold is the world in its mad rush for gold. 

Hard is its verdict, barren its creed ; 
Never it cares when faces grow old. 

Laughing when hearts cry out in their need. 

Oh! how I wish you could give me, tonight. 

Just the dear presence that comforts so much; 
Bringing back, out of the past, the delight 

Of hands that strengthen and calm by their 
touch; 
Bitter the apple of dust that we take. 

Empty the house that is built on the sands, 
I want you, tonight, to ease the old ache 

In my heart, with the touch of your beautiful 
hands. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 3 

THE WALL IS HIGH 

The wall is high 

Around the garden of your heart; 

Fast barred the gate — 

No footsteps sound within, 

No bird sings to its mate. 

Outside, alone, I wait 

And waiting sigh — 

The wall around your heart is high, so high! 

The lock I cannot break, 

That keeps me prisoner outside. 

I call in vain, 

I turn my back upon the world. 

Tears fall like autumn rain: 

My lone heart groans with pain, 

And yet my faith still tells me you will wake. 

And then the joy of you will ease the old, old ache. 

The wall is high — 

Around the garden of your heart, 

But oh! the peace, the joy, the bliss ^ 

(That now I miss,) 

When this wall shuts me in, with you ! 



HOUSE OF LOVE 



MY WORLD 

I do not seem to know, or care 
That grey clouds blot the skies; 

Your smile makes sunshine everywhere, 
My world is in your eyes. 

The burden of the day falls light 

Upon me now, it seems, 
For, 'neath the curtain of the night 

You soothe me in my dreams. 

Though 'tis beyond the evening star 
To where earth's boundary lies, 

I will not wander very far. 
My world is in your eyes. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 5 

DREAM MAGIC 

I had a fleeting dream last night, a dear, dear 

dream of you, 
I held your hands in mine and looked into your 

eyes of blue; 
We sat close, where the firelight fell in softly 

flickering gleams, 
As it is always falling, dear, around us, in my 

dreams. 
The dull, dull ache of wanting you, the torture of 

demands. 
Was soothed beneath the magic touch of your 

restoring hands. 

I had a dream of you last night, the burdens of 
the day 

Slipped from my tired shoulders all because I 
heard you say, 

"I love you. Dear, I love you", tho' my lips voiced 
no replies. 

For they were dumb with gladness at the love- 
light in your eyes ; 

Home, home again from roaming, it was enough 
to know 

That you were there beside me, you whom I've 
wanted so. 



6 HOUSE OF LOVE 

I had a dream of you last night, a dream so 

quickly past, 
For on the dial of human hearts the shadow turns 

so fast. 
But on my face it left a smile, upon my lips a song, 
A sacred memory in my heart, tho' dreams are 

never long; 
Today I take my burden up, and ever light it 

seems. 
Because I feel the dear, dear hands that clasped 

me in my dreams. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 7 

THE APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD 

The apple-blossom road lies far toward the hills 
o' hope, 
And oh ! the golden glory of the sun-down gates 
ajar ! 
With valley green, and sun a-gleam upon its 
emerald slope. 
And nightingales a-singing beneath the twi- 
light star — 
Adown the weary stretch of years we often look 
and long, 
While through the halls of memory our truant 
footsteps stray. 
We listen to the echo of some old heart-throbbing 
song. 
And hear faint voices calling us along the prim- 
rose way. 

The apple-blossom road lies through the years 
that turn and turn, 
It leads us on 'neath azure skies and drifting 
clouds of white; 

Where from a purple casement God's altar- 
candles burn. 
Until the silence calls adown the minster-aisles 
of night. 

It is a path that turns and turns through all the 
fallow years, 



8 HOUSEOFLOVE 

But oh! the happiness, Sweetheart, of toiling 
'neath the load. 
Through all the hours of deepest woe, and sor- 
row's rain of tears. 

If always you are near me, on the apple-blossom 
road. 

The way I came was dreary, and bruised by wan- 
dering feet. 
My heart was starved for love, my lips longed 
for Love's clinging kiss, 
Each year was just a weary year, parched with 
the summer's heat. 
For oh ! it's lonely, waiting for the arms of Love 
we miss. 
I have waited for your coming where the golden 
sunlight gleams, 
And the twilight shadows gathered as I count- 
ed o'er my dreams. 
But now, Sweetheart, there is no rue, there is no 
heavy load, 
With your blue eyes always smiling on the 
apple-blossom road. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 9 

rrS WONDERFUL TO HOPE WITH YOU 

It's wonderful to hope with you, my Dear, 

Beautiful hope which brings 
Sunshine and peace to days so drear, 

A song to the soul's taut strings; 
I count o'er my memories, one by one, 
Holding them close, when the day is done. 

It's wonderful to build, as I dream of you, 

A cottage with eaves so low. 
Where love would wait, in the dusk and dew, 

And roses would bend and blow: 
A cottage — where all that I want would be 
Waiting and watching, each day, for me. 

It's wonderful to think that nothing could mar 
The touch of your dear, dear hand. 

That home would always be where you are. 
To comfort, and understand: 

Adown Hope's pathway my face still turns. 

To you — and a fire-light that brightly burns. 



10 HOUSEOFLOVE 

THE LAND OF DREAMS 

Today, my Dear, and yesterday it seems. 
Your smiling face is woven in my dreams. 
And each Tomorrow, as they come and go. 
With all the pomp, and ever changing show, 
All bring to me some little secret part 
Of you, that leaves a song within my heart. 

The drifting clouds, the sky so hazy blue, 

The bending rose all wet with twilight dew, 

The summer winds that blow from fields so fair. 

Like your dear fingers stealing through my hair; 

All lure me on, and always on, it seems, 

To meet you, somewhere, in the Land of Dreams. 

Oh! Land of Dreams, oh! ghostly twilight land, 
Each day I yearn to find your far-off strand 
Each night I pray, with lips that humbly plead. 
That God may know, and understand my need; 
Each night I wait, while aching eyes look far 
Into the dreary darkness, where you are. 

L'Envoi — 

Oh! Land of Dreams, oh! shadow-land, so dear, 
Open your gates, and let me feel them near, 
Whose smile brings joy; and let me feel their 

hand 
Reach out and touch me from that spirit-land. 



HOUSEOFLOVE ll 

WHERE THE FIRELIGHT GLEAMS 

Out the long street so narrow and so winding, 
Out where the stars so very brightly shine, 

There is a path my feet are always finding, 
And at its end is all I want, for mine — 

There lies the joy of all my daily dreams, 

There, where the firelight, ever friendly, gleams. 

At each day's end, though hard it is, and dreary, 
My feet are eager for the path which lies 

Beyond the toil that makes the shoulders weary. 
The path that ends beneath the twilight skies — 

The love is there, which guides my steps aright, 

Watching and waiting in the fire's soft light. 

Long seems the day, because my heart is roaming, 
Slow comes the night because my lips must miss 

Other dear lips, as in the twilight gloaming 
I want the gladness of a comrade kiss — 

The one I love, my joy, my life is there, 

The firelight gleaming on her golden hair. 



12 HOUSEOFLOVE 

THE OPEN GATE 

How fares it, Friend, upon life's winding road? 

Your pathway lies so far apart from mine, 
I never know how heavy is your load, 

Or if the sunbeams on your pathway shine. 

How goes it. Friend, out there where e'er you are ? 
My hand ne'er meets your hand in clasp so 
true, 
Altho' I know each separate, silent star 

That shines o'er me, shines somewhere over 
you. 

How fares it, Friend, you whom I used to know 
In other days, when life was bright and fair? 

Time is a miser ! — that was long ago — 

And he has sprinkled snowflakes in your hair. 

How goes it. Friend, along Life's winding way? 

Death's twilight comes, the while we watch and 
wait. 
We will be tired when comes the end of day — 

And I shall meet you at the open gate. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 13 

LAUGHTER AND TEARS 

Ofttimes we smile when tortured lips are aching, 
Ofttimes we sing when heart is near to breaking ; 
We sow and reap though weary drags the day, 
Our faith still sweet, though skies are dull and 

gray — 
For hopes are always close akin to fears, 
And laughter lies so near, so near to tears. 

When to our listening ears an old voice calls. 
And once again, we stray through memory's halls. 
To the glad world we must be glad and gay. 
And hold our heart-aches till the close of day. 
Twilight! and memories of the yester-years! 
Ah ! laughter is so close akin to tears. 

We miss a hand-clasp that we used to know. 
We hear, again, a voice call soft and low. 
Our hungry lips for other lips still plead, 
Tho' the glad world knows nothing of our need — 
An old, dead song drifts to our listening ears. 
Oh! laughter lies so near, so near to tears. 



14 HOUSE OF LOVE 

WHEN YOU NEED ME 

When oftentimes the weight of dragging days 
Falls like some heavy hand upon your heart, 

When weary feet take duty's crooked ways, 
And from tired eyes the tears, unbidden, start, 

When your voice calls, despite life's empty creed. 

It is a joy to answer to your need. 

When shattered hopes, like idols, turn to dust. 
When sad you kneel in life's Gesthemane, 

It's sweet to know that naught can kill your trust, 
And that, somewhere, you're always calling me : 

For though between us night's dark miles may 
fall, 

Nothing can stop my answer to your call. 

So, day by day my thread of life is crossed 
With yours, my dear, until they are as one ; 

And I shall count the long years worse than lost. 
Unless I serve you 'till life's days are done : 

For I shall count the love, forget the rue. 

If I may always, always comfort you. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 15 

DENIAL! 

If, after long, long, weary, empty days 
Of gnawing want and maddening, numbing pain, 
Fate were most kind, and smiling gave to you 
The chance to hold me, have me, once again ; 
Would you stop then. Beloved, to count the cost 
Or keep me from you 'till all hope was lost? 

After the hell of dark and dismal nights. 
When purple lips piteously framed a prayer. 
If, once again, you could reach out your arms, 
Reach out and find me close against you, there, 
Would you withhold one eager, clinging kiss. 
Or cheat me of the joy — tonight I miss? 

And when you stop to measure life, at last. 
Measure the days by what they give, or hold. 
The want, the hunger and the loneliness, 
The empty arms, and lips so drawn and old; 
Would you give less than all — though wrong or 

right. 
If I were there, close in your arms, tonight? 



16 HOUSEOFLOVE 

APRIL 

Oh! we see your tears a-gleaming as we go each 
winding mile, 

But the tears are oft forgotten 'neath the sun- 
shine of your smile ; 

While you scatter apple-blossoms on the perfume 
laden breeze, 

And give out your richest nectar to the pirate- 
roaming bees. 

Breathless we wait and listen! and we hear the 
brown thrush sing, 

While the silvery sunbeams glisten on its ever 
restless wing; 

Every balmy breeze is bringing whispering mem- 
ories of thy voice, 

While the echo of it ringing makes the whole wide 
world rejoice. 

Tho* the vagrant clouds are drifting out across 
the azure skies. 

We can see them slowly rifting 'neath the sun- 
shine of your eyes : 

And we watch you quickly herding all the white 
clouds in the west, 

While you hold the unborn roses closely to your 
pulsing breast. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 17 

Twilight stars begin to gather on the moon- 
encrusted slope 

Of the stairway you have builded with the jewels 
of your hope; 

So the days are filled with glory by the sunshine 
in your eyes, 

And the breast of night is pulsing with the bur- 
den of your sighs. 



18 HOUSEOFLOVE 

PAY DIRT 

I wandered down from the hills o' fret toward the 

valley o' sweet content, 
And I didn't give a tinker's dam which way my 

ole hoss went; 
I passed the house of Discontent, an' hit fer the 

windin road. 
With a trace-sore soul, and a back all bent with a 

hell-of-a heavy load. 
An I wondered how the sun could shine, an the 

measly birds could sing, 
For I wus tired — too tired to kick at bein hung — 

by jing. 

My ole hoss kept up a shamblin gait, as he heaved 

his sweat-soaked hide, 
An I wouldn't a keered if the hoss an me had laid 

rite down an died; 
Cause there didn't seem much that was wuth the 

fight — an nothin left to learn. 
An it seemed that somebody shore had lied bout 

the lane that has no turn ; 
The old back trail had been some rough, and 

the pay dirt hard to find, 
And there wasn't much but fool regrets mixed 

up with the tracks behind. 

It made me sore as I thrashed it out; an I jerked 
on the bit so hard 



HOUSEOFLOVE 19 

That I brought the blood to the hungry mouth of 

my heave-afflicted pard; 
Though I knew damned well he wasn't to blame 

for the fool mistakes I made, 
'Cause I hitched him up at every camp, an danced 

while the fiddler played. 
But you know how mean an weak an hard we 

git, when luck breaks bad. 
We jest go nutty, an shore fergit all the luck we 

ever had. 

So we jogged along, my hoss an me, a-hittin the 

sundown trail, 
My heart wus sore, an my hoss wus sore frum 

his nose to his ragged tail. 
When, all of a sudden the ole road turned rite up 

to a lean-to door. 
An say, I hope thet I shore nuff die if I ever lose 

hope enny more ; 
Fer there in the door set the purtiest thing I ever 

seen dressed in clothes 
An God hed painted her eyes sky blue, an mashed 

on her cheeks a rose. 

She wus settin there with the fadin light asleep 
in her golden hair. 

An I know an angel in Heaven can't be one hon- 
ery bit so fair. 

As she rocked, I heerd her a-singin low to some- 
thin she held up tight 



20 HOUSEOFLOVE 

In her sun-brown arms — an I knowed thet God 
had shore 'nuff done things right. 

So I said to my hoss as we jogged along toward 
the end of a ragged day, 

"If ever we strike pay-dirt like this, we'll stake 
off a claim an stay." 



HOUSEOFLOVE 21 

THE WEAVING OF DREAMS 

I miss you when I'm waking and the crimson sun- 
light gleams 

Through dawn's half-open windows, as the world 
sighs in its dreams, 

When the morning star is slipping down the twi- 
light's western stair, 

I can see the sunbeams mingling with the spun 
gold of your hair: 

And along the trail of sunrise I can see you com- 
ing, Sweet, 

With the dew-kissed flowers smiling in the path- 
way of your feet. 



I miss you at the noon-time, when within the 
market-place 

I search a million faces, all in vain, to find your 
face, 

When the load of life is heavy, and the heart- 
strings almost break. 

When the lips are numb and wordless, and the 
tired fingers ache, 

The memory of you lingers, like the touch of 
hands so fair. 

And I see again the sunbeams hiding in your 
golden hair. 



22 HOUSEOFLOVE 

When day is done, and night comes, Dear, I miss 

you most, it seems, 
And each thought of you is woven in the fabric 

of my dreams; 
All the hunger of a lifetime crowds into my 

yearning sighs. 
And I long to lose life's winter in the summer of 

your eyes : 
So! alone, I wait and listen for your footsteps 

coming fast 
Down the path of life, to meet me, and I'll have 

my dream, at last. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 23 

MY GUEST 

Love came into my home one day, 
Laughingly said he had come to stay; 
He did not ask if I wanted him, 
But smiled at me o'er the tea-cup's rim, 
What could I do, what could I say. 
When Love came into my home to stay? 

Love came in and wanted a home. 

Said he was tired of having to roam. 

He romped with the kids 'till they laughed in glee, 

And then he lovingly smiled at me ; 

He sang the old songs I used to know, 

Until I hated to bid him go. 

Love long lingered, until the days 
Were just nothing but beautiful ways 
Wherein the feet could roam and roam, 
Always finding the short way home; 
Always laughing his quick replies, 
Always smiling from kindly eyes. 

Love came into my home one day. 
Laughed and said he had come to stay; 
He didn't know how I wanted him. 
How I had prayed in the twilight dim. 
So now I laugh at life's rough way. 
Since Love came into my home, to stay. 



24 HOUSEOFLOVE 



THE VOICE OF YOU 



How many clouds, I wonder Dear, will drift 
o'er skies of blue. 

Before ray listening ears will hear the old, sweet 
voice of you? 

How many moons will wax and wane, and star- 
lights faintly glow, 

Before I whisper once again "I've missed you, 
missed you so"? 

How many breezes will there be from far off 
alien lands. 

Before you give again to me those dear, dear, 
restful hands? 



How many nights, how many days v/ill drift to 

waiting years, 
Before your sweetly magic ways shall make me 

glad to tears? 
Before your smiling face shall make my i- ig- 

stilled pulses start. 
Before your clinging lips shall ease the ache 

within my heart? 
How long, I wonder. Heart O'Mine — each day a 

year it seems — 
While memories of you gently twine themselves 

into my dreams. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 25 

How long before the weary night of waiting has 

its end, 
Till the long trail a-winding will, somewhere, 

sometime, bend? 
How long before the mystic dreams will all be 

coming true. 
And I will see the sunset gleams fall on the face 

of you? 
Fall on the face of you, and shine within your 

golden hair. 
For in this world there is no face one half so 

sweet or fair. 

Each long, long day. My Dearie, seems as if it 

never ends. 
And oh! the road is weary — the road that never 

bends, 
I watch the white clouds straying out across the 

silvery moon. 
The while my heart is praying that you'll be 

coming soon; 
Because my eyes are yearning for your laughing 

eyes of blue. 
And my ears are ever turning to the old, sweet 

voice of you. 



26 HOUSEOFLOVE 

—BUT NOT TO KEEP 

God gave me you! — and I was happy then, 
Happier than I had ever hoped to be; 

I walked — a king — among my f ellowmen ; 
And all the world seemed very fair to me — 

God gave me you ; and like a trusting child 

Unto its friend — I looked at you and smiled. 

My life had been gray clouds o'er winter skies, 
Dark, restless nights, days full of biting pain. 

Until I saw life's summer in your eyes, 

And hope was new-born in my heart, again. 

God gave me you ! and oh ! 'twas good to live. 

You were my life — what more was there to give? 

God gave me you — a little bit of heaven. 
Dropped down to make life good and glad. 

But now my faith stands naked and unshriven, 
For cruel Fate has taken all I had — 

My heart is dead, my tired eyes will not weep, 

God gave me you. Beloved, — but not to keep. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 27 

UNAFRAID 

When I am done with toiling, with hunger and 
regret, 

I ask just this, a little place to slumber and for- 
get, 

A little place, somewhere apart, beneath the 
changeless sky, 

Safe from the censure of the world, the gaze of 
passers-by. 

Beneath some kind tree's restful shade with 
branches spread above, 

Beneath the sunshine God has made, the sun- 
shine that I love. 

For I am tired. The fight has been a weary one 
at best, 

I fought it with a smile, and now I only ask to 
rest. 

The pathway was not always smoothe, hope's star 

not always bright, 
But footsteps cannot wander back, no matter 

wrong or right. 
So when I'm done with dreaming, of which all 

life is made, 
I'll stand before my Maker, naked and unafraid. 



28 HOUSEOFLOVE- 

WHERE THE TRAIL DIVIDES 

Oh ! the old days, the bold days, the days we rode 
together, 
Side by side, a-laughin' down the sunny slope 
o' June; 
The drear ways were dear ways through the 
changing weather. 
While shoulder touchin' shoulder kept our 
hearts in tune. 
But the trail is parting, 
Back from where it's starting, 

And it is a lonesome trail out beneath the moon. 

Oh ! the highways, the byways, the long ways we 
were taking. 
With not a thought of twilight, or darkness 
that must fall, 
Oh! the glad times, the mad times before the 
world was waking. 
As, through the blue grey morning we heard 
the Coyote call — 
But the twilight's creeping, 
And I hear you weeping 

As I take the upland trail all alone — that's all. 

Oh ! the new days, the blue days, the days without 
your laughter. 
Nights by camp-fire dreamin' that your shoul- 
der's touchin' mine; 



HOUSEOFLOVE 29 

I would lay all, play all my chance in the here- 
after 
To see your red lips quiver, and taste their 
maddening wine — 

But the trail's dividing, 

And I must be riding 

All alone, and lonely out across the timber-line. 



30 HOUSEOFLOVE 

PALS 

This life's too short to always stay 

In the same old place, in the same old way; 

And the world's too wide for wandering feet 

To plug along on an asphalt street — 

The road gleams white, to the hills that lie 

Under the arch of the evening sky. 

So come on pal, let's go. 

Each new-born day seems fit and fine, 
The warm blood flows like rich, red wine. 
The office walls are prison bars. 
The arc lights gleam like giant stars — 
The noise of traffic that surges and sways. 
Strangles the echo of childhood days. 
Wake up old pal, let's ride. 

The lark mounts high from the grasses deep. 
The squirrel frisks where the violets sleep. 
The sky is blue like the waiting sea. 
And the whole wide world calls you and me — 
While the bees are robbing, like pirates bold, 
And the sunbeams gleam like bars of gold. 
We're late old pal, let's hike. 

Come on let's go where the land and sky 

Whisper to us with a happy sigh ; 

Where there's nothing to crush or hold us down, 



HOUSEOFLOVE 31 

Say, a million miles from the smoky town — 
Where the whole world smiles at the break o' day, 
And it seems like Heaven has come to stay; 
I'm waiting old pal, let's sneak. 



32 HOUSEOFLOVE 

DRIFTING 

Drifting along, as the waters flow 
On and out to the waiting sea; 

Into lands we may never know, 
Sun-kissed islands for you, and me — 

Down the river we drift, tonight. 

In the path of the soft moonlight. 

The band is playing a sweet, waltz tune, 
We hear the rythm of dancing feet ; 

Fragrant breezes like budding June 
Come with the perfume of roses sweet. 

Roses blossom when faith is new, 

But faith oft dies, as the roses do. 

Out in the west the evening star 

Gleams like a beacon to light the way 

Into the lands that stretch so far. 
Over beyond the end of day — 

I wonder if we shall ever know 

All of the longings that haunt us, so ? 



HOUSE OF LOVE 33 

CLOSED GATES 

Always! onward the river of Time 

Flows through the valley of Yesterday, 

While drifting snows of a winter clime 
Cover the flowers of dying May — 

Always! and onward the river flows, 

Always a sorrow which no one knows. 

Always! the stars thro' the azure night 
Gleam from above, when the sun has set, 

And in the cool of the morning light, 

Shine thro' the mist, like eyes, tear-wet — 

Always ! and ever the pale stars shine. 

Always a joy that is never mine. 

Always! and onward the pathway leads 

Unto the gates that are ever fast. 
While in the thirst of our human needs 

We dream they open to us at last — 
Ahvays ! and onward the pathway lies, 
Unto the gatev/ay of Paradise. 



34 HOUSEOFLOVE 

WHEN THE WORLD IS CALLING 

It's good to live, and it's good to feel 

The warmth of the summer sun, 
And then it is best of all to steal 

Away, when the day is done. 
To the open road that wanders far, 

'Till never a road there be. 
Out and on, where the meadows are 

Like the green of a summer sea. 

It's good to go, till your tired feet ache. 

And the brain is weary too. 
On and on, o'er brook and brake. 

With the whole world calling you. 
It's good to drink from the chaliced rim 

Of nature's flowing glass, 
With a toast of praise and love to Him 

Who bringeth it all to pass. 

It's good to open the lungs and drink 

The wine of the balmy breeze. 
It's good to watch the white clouds drift 

Like ships on turquoise seas; 
It's good to watch the stars shine bright, 

As the shadows of twilight fall. 
With never a fear, and never a tear, 

And never a sigh for all. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 35 

SECLUDED WAYS 

In years to come, when memory, fruant, strays 
Along the pathway of the buried past, 

Slow treading feet, over secluded ways. 

Wherein our friendship was too sweet to last, 

I wonder if your listening ears will hear 

Again, the love words that I whispered. Dear? 

Will you remember days when you and I 
Wandered alone, far from the city's strife, 

Roaming, like children, 'neath the summer sky, 
Till hearts were bursting with the joy of life: 

And there, together, in the twilight gray. 

Your dear eyes told me what you would not say? 

The days slip by, like swallows on the wing. 
And each, our ship of hope, puts out to sea. 

Each wondering what the unborn years will 
bring. 
Each wondering where the other one will be. 

Each heart a-hunger for the other heart, 

Yet knowing that our pathways lie apart. 

The recreant years may hold no potion rare. 
To heal the wounds such partings always make, 

But won't your lips, sometimes, repeat a prayer, 
Calling my name, again, for old time's sake? 

And won't you long, just once again, to know 

The lingering touch of one who loves you so? 



36 HOUSE OF LOVE 

THE VALLEY OF YESTERDAY 

Where have you gone, comrade of mine, 
Over the hills and away from me ; 

Over the path where the roses twine, 
Into the land that used to be — 

Where have you gone with your laugh so gay, 

Into the valley of Yesterday? 

Ah! sometimes how I long to go 

Back o'er the path, that stretches far 

Into the land where the roses blow, 
Back where my toys and playmates are — 

Back where life was a game to play. 

There in the valley of Yesterday. 

The years slip by, and the heart grows sad. 
Feet are weary and eyes are dim. 

Soon the songs that have made us glad, 
Will drift into a dying hymn. 

Never again can we find the way 

Back to the valley of Yesterday. 

Ah ! little comrade of mine, be bright, 
Laugh while the roses are budding new, 

After the sunset cometh the night. 

After the love we must take the rue — 

Never again, tho' we plead and pray, 

Po we find the valley of Yesterday, 



HOUSE OF LOVE 37 

LIFE'S SPRINGTIME 

Sometimes, it seems, the rose most misses. 

Not the kiss of the sun, but the cool night dew ; 

And my lips most miss the wayward kisses, 
That in life's springtime they took from you. 

The soft wind blows through silken tresses 
Of the weeping willow, outside my door ; 

And I long again, for the dear caresses 
Of beautiful hands, that I feel no more. 

It is not the love which was never given, 
It is not the kisses we've never known; 

It's the love we had, with a glimpse of heaven, 
And lips that were hungry against our own. 

It is not the dark which seems so dreary. 
When the day slips into the arms of night; 

Only, because, when worn and weary 

We yearn for the joy of the bright sunlight. 

So, oft, when the wind to the rose is singing, 
A wonderful song which you do not hear. 

To my tired heart, old thoughts are bringing 
All of life's longing for you, my Dear. 



38 HOUSEOFLOVE 

TO-DAY 

All thraugh the day loud voices break the spell 
Of gripping silence, and a thousand feet 
Walk by my side along the crowded street; 
Yet to my ears no message do they tell 
Of you, out there, where dimmed eyes cannot see 
And ghostly silence still is mocking me. 

There is no ease for this benumbing pain, 
God must not know the hurt a heart can hold — 
Forgetfulness can bring no balm. No gold, 
No earthly fortune I can count as gain : 
There is no smile upon these lips that pray 
For your dear kisses at the close of day. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 39 

NANNETTE 

I sit, all alone in the silence and gloom, 

While shadows creep up, o'er the walls of my 

room, 
The old buried memories rise up so fast, 
And your dear face appears, like a ghost from 

the past. 
With your soft, waving curls, as black as the 

night. 
And your wicked brown eyes, full of laughter and 

light. 
Your ripe lips as red as the rose-leaves that hold 
The kiss of the dew-drops, in each velvet told. 

I have tramped through the city and out in the 

night. 
To the top of the hill, with the road gleaming 

white 
Toward the gray, crouching shadows that lurk in 

the west. 
With a shift of my load, never stopping to rest ; 
But back o'er my pathway, still warm from my 

feet, 
I hear your voice calling. The night winds repeat^ 
The words you are saying. I feel, through my 

hair 
The touch of your fingers still lingering there. 



40 HOUSEOFLOVE 

I feel once again, your cheek against mine, 
And the touch of your lips, like a measure of 

wine, 
I live, once again, in the light of your eyes, 
As I did long ago, neath bright summer skies. 
I feel once again, all the wild, youthful bliss, 
In the clasp of your arms, the wine of your kiss, — 
But the sunset is fading, the night falling fast. 
And your face fades again, like a ghost, in the 

past. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 41 

THE GARDEN WALL 

When breezes come so warm and sweet, 

Like the breath of a maiden fair, 

And the rose-leaves drift against the face, 

Like the strands of silken hair : 

Then I sigh, again, for the days I knew. 

When life was young and skies were blue. 

When lights gleam white, through the starless 

night, 
Like the lure of the fire-flies' glow; 
And I hear the moan, like a restless soul. 
Of the traffic to and fro. 
Then I long to walk in the wild wood deep, 
And the cool bypaths where the violets sleep. 

For the heart gets sick of the endless toil. 

And the glare of the blinding heat ; 

While feet grow tired of their fruitless search, 

O'er miles of winding street. 

And the path gleams white to the garden wall. 

Where the blue smoke curls, and rose leaves fall. 



42 HOUSE OF LOVE 

GYPSY LOVE SONG 

The gray clouds hang low, and the South wind is 
sighing, 
The twilight creeps up from the arms of the 
West; 

The black bat flaps by, and the night-bird is cry- 
ing. 
Perhaps a false love left a pain in its breast : 

But what do I care for the bird, or the night, 

When I wait for your coming, my Life and my 
Light? 

I'm waiting for you where the wild rose is 

sleeping. 
And the Will-o-the-wisp dances out o'er the 

glen ; 
I'm watching for you where the blood-vine is 

creeping, 
And the dank grasses know not the footprints 

of men. 
I am waiting for you by the dark river's brink. 
And each rustling leaf is your footstep, I think. 

Come Love! do not linger; my strong arms are 
yearning. 
Yes, longing to hold you once more to my 
heart ; 



HOUSEOFLOVE 43 

Leave the circle of light where the camp-fires are 
burning, 
Come swiftly, come softly where black waters 
part ; 

Leave the white tents behind, leave the night- 
watch asleep, 

For tomorrow you move, and tomorrow I weep. 

Oh ! star of my life, come while I am waiting. 
Come feel my caresses, your lips close to mine ; 

Come whisper of love for the wood-doves are 
mating. 
Come let me drink deep of your soul's madden- 
ing wine. 

The dawn soon will come, in the East, oh Sweet- 
heart, 

Come, now! while I wait where the black waters 
part. 



44 HOUSE OF LOVE 

THE ENDING OF THE TRAIL 

(In memory of Joaquin Miller) 

High up the misty mountain side the winding 

trail grows dim, 
And there in silence deep and grand the Lone 

Guide waits for him; 
From old Sierra's snow-capped crest the path 

drops to the west, 
Somewhere down there the rough trail ends^ — ^the 

camp-fires gleam and rest; 
Rest for his weary soul, and dreams far sweeter 

than he knew 
When giant fir trees sheltered him, and cutting 

northwinds blew. 
O'er desert wastes of shimmering snow and 

miles of barren plain. 
Where tireless jackals called their own, behind 

the wagon train. 

He was a bard of sweetest tongue, his heart was 
tried and true ; 

His songs the dearest ever sung beneath God's 
arching blue. 

He loved the desert and the stream, the moun- 
tains and the sea, 

He loved the west land best of all because the 
west was free; 



HOUSE OF LOVE 45 

And now he takes the unknown trail toward the 

paling west, 
The phantom trail we all must take — ^the way to 

peace and rest; 
Beyond the far-off timber-line, beyond all human 

ken, 
He followed in the Lone Guide's steps, from out 

the haunts of men. 



46 HOUSEOFLOVE 

MA! 

Ma is the one who always flings 

The doors of love so wide, 

Ma is the one who always brings 

The joy of life inside. 

She is the one who binds with care 

The wounds of heart, and hand; 

And God, Who can't be everywhere, 

Gave her to understand. 

Ma is the one whose hands, it seems. 

Are busy all the day; 

Weaving the threads of golden dreams. 

That never pass away. 

She has no thought, but just to bless 

The loved ones God has lent. 

So, through life's pleasure and distress. 

She serves, and is content. 

Ma is the one whose gentle tone 
Smoothes o'er each ruffled thought. 
Ma is the one whose eyes, alone, 
The light of heaven have caught; 
She sings about her daily tasks, 
In accents low and sweet; 
And love is all she ever asks 
To make her life complete. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 47 

THE GRAY DAWN TRAIL 

When the purple dawn is slipping over to the 

rim o' day, 
And the morning star is fading just beyond the 

milky way, 
When the drowsy world is waking, and the woods, 

so black and deep 
Seem to sorter dream and murmer as if talking 

in their sleep. 

It is then life's worth the livin' with the blood 

like flowing wine, 
And the crack o' day a-spreadin' all along the 

timber line ; 
It is then you want to travel, true and far, like 

homing bees. 
Travel with no voice to grab you but the whisper 

of the breeze. 

So! it's up and rub your eyelids, as you hunt a 

vagrant shoe 
By the faint gleam through your window, where 

a star looks in on you, 
And it's slip into your buckskins and your suit 

of corduroy, 
For the sun will soon be shinin', and you've got 

to hike, my Boy. 



48 HOUSE OF LOVE 

Grab your gun and work the lever, as she clicks 

and snaps and glides, 
And then do a little oilin' where each black shell 

slips and slides, 
Then you jerk a slice o' bacon, hold it in the blaze 

a bit. 
With some stale bread and your coffee, 'fore you 

grab your gun, and git. 

Then you hit the long and lonesome ! bearing, may 

be, north by west. 
With the white frost on the sumac, and a glad 

heart in your chest. 
While the dew is dropping, dripping, from the 

cypress and the cane, 
Down upon the dead leaf carpet like the patter 

of the rain. 

Gaunt and gray the big trees face you, like the 

ghosts from out your past. 
Towering still and straight above you, each a 

quivering half-stripped mast. 
While the white line leads you onward, over 

marshes dank and deep 
Where the cypress beds of velvet hide the wild 

things as they sleep. 

Onward, o'er the grass-fringed ridges, up the 
wide draw's yielding bed, 



HOUSE OF LOVE 49 

Till the birds begin to twitter, and the far-off east 

grows red; 
Somewhere, in the fading shadows, stealthily a 

soft foot falls, 
And beyond the reach of eyesight, faint and far, 

a turkey calls. 

Oh ! it's good to feel the ozone as it flows into your 

chest, 
And it's good to watch the daylight chase the 

shadows to the west, 
With the red blood madly flowing to each wild 

heart-beat of joy, 
As the gray dawn hits the sky-line and you take 

the trail, my Boy. 



50 HOUSEOFLOVE 



BILL AN ME 



Bill an me was mighty friends, till Bill got mad 
one day, 

About the price I ast him fer a measly load uv 
hay; 

Old Bill, you know, he lives upon a farm rite close 
to mine. 

An we didn't have no fence at all on our dividin' 
line, 

Till Bill got swelled up 'bout the hay and told me 
to step hence. 

An then he worked a whole damned week a build- 
in' uv a fence. 



Now, me an Bill had plugged along, a-livin' side 
by side 

Fer years, an every body knowed thet we wus 
satisfied ; 

We shared each others sorrows, an divided up our 
joys, 

An we wus jest as happy as a pair of reckless 
boys : 

Till Bill got off his nut about thet item uv ex- 
pense, 

An shocked my nerves so awful by startin' on that 
fence. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 51 

You know the world is mighty queer about a lot 

uv things, 
An many joys it slips to you are tied with little 

strings, 
But all along I tried to think, though I wus wrong, 

you see, — 
That, somehow, it wus different with dear old Bill 

an me. 
But we have to live a lifetime, I guess, to learn 

some sense. 
An then a lot uv times it ends with the buildin' 

uv a fence. 

Well, somehow I got lonesome, an kinder sore at 

heart. 
Though we was livin' jest the same short, measly 

ways apart ; 
rd plow all day an look across where Bill wus 

plowin' too. 
But Bill he didn't yell at me, the way he used to 

do; 
'Er maybe stop an ask me when my harvest would 

commence. 
Until I got damnation sore a lookin' at thet fence. 

But one night Bill come over an said to me, "Say 

Jim 
I am afeerd there's somethin very wrong with 

little Tim," 



52 HOUSE OF LOVE 

I went with Bill, across the fields, an through the 
red twilight. 

We watched an prayed, but little Tim, he slipped 
away that night. 

We buried him beneath the trees, upon the slop- 
in' hill. 

Beside where I had buried my own boy. Little 
Bill. 

I'd named my boy fer Bill, you see, because I loved 
Bill so. 

An many a day he'd foller Bill along the new- 
plowed row; 

Then Bill would take him up in front, when the 
day's work wus done. 

An they'd ride home together, at the settin' uv the 
sun. 

But now I know thet kindness always brings its 
recompense, 

Because early the next mornin' Bill wus tearin' 
down that fence. 



f HOUSEOFLOVE 53 

RECLAMATION 

I stood alone upon the outer rim of life 
Black with the shadows of long-lived despair, 
My aching heart had almost ceased to hope, 
Crushed and alone, you found me standing there 
Waiting, it seemed, for the last star to fall, 
And feel death's darkness settle over all. 

There was no pain, it seemed, I had not known. 
There was no wound that had not touched my 

heart. 
Life's bitter harvest was a million tears. 
Watering those empty, arid years — apart; 
While, starved and crushed, — I prayed, and 

cursed, and wept. 
Until your spirit close beside mine crept. 

You came to me, and gave my weary soul 
The benediction of your wondrous love; 
Until I turned my aching eyes again 
Toward the sunlight of the skies above — 
You came, and touched your precious lips to 

mine. 
And sealed the union of a love divine. 

Your gentle hands lay cool upon my brow, 
Easing the hurt that seemed to numb my brain, 
Your faithful eyes looked love into my own, 



54 HOUSEOFLOVE 

Until I smiled, forgetting all my pain ; 

And oh! it seemed, your arms were made to hold 

Me close, beneath your head of shaded gold. 

I count all pain, just something sweet to feel, 
I count no loss, no hell of dark despair, 
Now that I know you are my very own, 
And I can feel your fingers in my hair — 
Nothing can matter with your hand in mine. 
As 'round our feet the fire-gleams softly shine. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 55 

SAVARAN 

Rose tinted lamps, soft curtains dropping low 
Across the tall, arched windows bright with 
light 

Of winter sunshine, on the drifted snow. 
Like phantom fire-gleams on a dreary night. 

A little table spread for only two, 

In a quiet corner, free from passing gaze. 

A cup for me, another cup for you, 

Drinking the gladness of the fleeting days. 

Soft rythmic music, faintly clear and sweet, 
The touch of fingers stealing over mine ; 

A wayside inn, whereat our pathways meet; 
A smile, ma chere! from my glass 'cross to 
thine. 

L'Envoi — 
Ah! Savaran, what secrets will you hold 
When summer green has turned to autumn 
gold? 



56 HOUSE OF LOVE 

CALLING FOR YOU 

Out of the cloud-isles ever a-drifting, 
Always across the skies ever blue; 

Out of my heart where life's clouds are rifting. 
Always I'm list'ning, and calling for you. 

Out of the dreams of each glad tomorrow, 
Out of the memories sacred and few, 

With a voice burdened by singing or sorrow. 
Always I'm hunting and calling for you. 

Out of the great throng ebbing and flowing, 
Out of the false friends, out of the true, 

On through the darkness, not caring or knowing, 
Always I'm watching and praying for you. 

(.)ut of the days, when Joy fills with laughter 
Some little moment when Fate gave me you ; 

Through the black nights that always come after, 
Oh! I am wanting and needing you too. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 57 

THE BATTLE 

Sometimes, when things go wrong, you know, 

And it's folly to even try ; 

It's hard, so hard to smile and fight, 

But easy, m^y boy, to die. 

When the road grows black and no light shines in. 
And the long trail rough to go. 
It's hard to grin, and lift your chin. 
But it's easy to die, you know. 

When Fate deals out with a mocking laugh 
The poor lone hand we must play. 
It's easy to pray for a dreamless end. 
But God ! it is hard to stay. 

Stern duty leads up a crooked hill. 
There's blood in the tears we cry; 
It's hard to live on when hope is gone 
But easy, my boy, to die. 

There's a calm that follows each raging storm. 
As the night must follow the day; 
It's easy to curse the gift of the gods. 
But awfully hard to pray. 

It's easy to drift with the current, down, 
But a battle to swim up-stream, 
It's easy to win when your ships come in. 
But hard when you miss your dream. 



58 HOUSEOFLOVE 

WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE 

When dreams come true, that we've dreamed so 

long, 
When our hearts are filled with a glad, new song ; 
When the old, dead ache is gone, at last, 
With the long, tired miles our feet have passed — 
Oh! the joy for me, and the joy for you, 
When dreams come true. 

When dreams come true that we've dreamed, 

apart. 
All to ourselves, with a starving heart, 
When God untangles the skein we hold, 
And we find, at last, life's rainbow gold — 
You take the gold ; all I want is you, 
When dreams come true. 

When dreams come true, some day, my Dear, 
When the heart is free of all doubt and fear, 
When the winding trail just, somehow, ends 
Where the sky with sunset's crimson blends — 
Oh! your lips for me, and my arms for you, 
When dreams come true. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 59 

BECAUSE 

I cannot tell what winds may touch 

Your cheeks with lingering kisses, 
I cannot tell you, Dear, how much 

My life your presence misses; 
I may not know if summer skies 

Are ever fair above you, 
I cannot frame to words my sighs, 

I only know I love you. 

The days are ever endless days. 

The nights are ever lonely, 
As all along life's winding ways, 

I want and need you only. 
May angels guard you, Dear, alway, 

And God keep watch above you. 
This is the prayer my warm lips say. 

Because, because I love you. 



60 HOUSEOFLOVE 

WHEN YOU HAVE GONE AWAY 

When you go away, and leave me with the mem- 
ory of your face 

Haunting me and taunting me from every secret 
place, 

When you have taken with you the sunshine of 
your smile, 

And left me sad and lonely along each winding 
mile, 

I will miss you, I will want you, far more than 
words can say, 

And my arms will be so empty when you have 
gone away. 

When you go away and leave me, I shall count 
the moments, Dear, 

Until you are returning, and your sweet voice I 
can hear. 

There will be no days of gladness, there will be 
no nights of rest. 

Until I hold your dear, dear face against my long- 
ing breast ; 

No other smile will matter, no other voice will 
cheer. 

Because the world holds nothing for me but you, 
my Dear. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 61 

LIFE'S TREASURES 

There is never any laughter but the laughter in 

your eyes, 
There is never any w^eeping but the echo of 

your sighs; 
There is never any sunshine but the sunshine of 

your smile, 
That falls across my pathway and makes the days 

worth while. 

There are never hours of toiling but I feel your 

presence near, 
There are never nights of moonlight but I see 

your face, my Dear, 
There is never any comfort for the burden of the 

days. 
But your gentle, twining fingers and their dear, 

caressing ways. 

There is never star-light streaming over heaven's 

silvery stair 
But I see again its gleaming in the glory of your 

hair. 
There is never any twilight falling on night's 

golden strand 
But I walk and talk beside you, holding once 

again your hand. 



62 HOUSE OF LOVfe 

WHATS THE USE OP' SIGHING 

What's the use of sighing when the world looks 

blue, 
What's the use of crying if the moon don't drop 
for you; 
What's the use complaining, 
Even if it's raining? 
Somewhere there are roses smiling through the 
dew. 

What's the use of finding fault with every thing? 
Harsh words are remembered by the pain they 
bring, 

Clouds may still be drifting. 

But they'll soon be shifting. 
And the swaying robbin will begin to sing. 

What's the use of growing old and worn and 

gray? 
Life is but the passing of a fleeting day. 

Love and Youth together. 

Through the stormy weather. 
Never slip the tether in life's golden May. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 63 

I MISS YOU 

I miss you Dear, when twilight shadows falling 
Lay soothing fingers on my aching eyes ; 

I seem to hear your dear lips softly calling, 
While through the dark the sighing wind 
replies. 

I miss you Dear — my restless aching fingers 
Reach out in vain, to find you by my side ; 

But just the memory of your presence lingers, 
While Want and Hunger on my Tiearth abide. 

I miss you Dear — and each unborn tomorrow 
Will find me waiting, lonely just for you ; 

Each lilting song touched with a note of sorrow 
Each cup of gladness tasting of the rue. 



64 HOUSE OF LOVE 

"OUR YESTERDAYS" 

Had you ever thought as you leave me, Dear, 
While the leaves drift down so brown and sere. 
That the days may lengthen to months and years 
Each bearing its burden of hopes and fears — 
While we shall each, in the fire's soft glow, 
Yearn for the days that we used to know? 

That summer will come, and skies get blue, 

As the last year's leaves let the violets through, 

That the moon will shine o'er the old pathways, 

As it did. Sweetheart, in our yesterdays: 

With the open roads that ever lie 

Toward the long-closed gate that we never try. 

Do you know my dear, in the years to come. 
When a prayer creeps up to white lips, dumb 
With the pain that eats out the aching heart, 
While eyes grow dim, and hot tears start, 
That, alone an^ apart from the world of men, 
You will feel the clasp of my hand again ? 

And the gates of your soul will open wide, 
With welcome for me, where others have tried 
In vain to enter, and you will long 
For a reckless kiss and a half -sung song. 
And there in the silence, the dusk and dew, 
Your heart will want me again with you. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 65 

BE SATISFIED J 

Why should we crave Tomorrow's gifts 

For they belong to God? 

Why fret about the rocky way 

Our feet have lately trod? 

The sun that smiles on us, today, 

Tomorrow may not shine, 

Our aching eyes may close in death 

At the short day's decline. 

Why should we weep, 0, hungry hearts, 

Why should our lips complain? 

Why e'er rebel against our lot 

When it is all in vain? 

Why censure God, and nature too? 

Let patience rule the days; 

God knoweth best, though He may lead 

Our feet o'er thorny ways. 

Today is but the passing flash 

Of light across the sky, 

It takes a hundred years to live. 

And just one hour to die. 

A thousand years are all too short 

To live for God, and right. 

And yet one breath upon the glass. 

Brings centuries of night. 



66 HOUSEOFLOVE 

Just for today, then, make your vows, 

Good things to do and say ; 

Tomorrow may not find you here. 

Ye who are here today ; 

Just for today, then dare the right, 

Tomorrow lies too far 

To count its blessings or its joys. 

Or watch its rising star. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 67 

IF YOU ONLY SMILE 

If there is ever a time you need me, 

If there's ever a day that's long; 

If there's ever a sigh, or a clouded sky 

Or a rift in your lilting song, 

I will listen to hear you calling, 

I will reach out my arms to you, 

For wherever I turn my heart will yearn 

Always, my Dear, for you. 

If there's ever a burden too heavy 

For your shoulders to bear, my Dear, 

If ever you pray at the ending day, 

Surely my ears will hear, 

And alas! though Fate divide us 

By many a weary mile. 

Thro' long, long days, o'er winding ways 

I will come, if you only smile. 



68 HOUSE OF LOVE 

THE STAR OF HOPE 

Just as I've waited through the long, long years, 
For happiness to come adown life's primrose 
way; 
With arms outstretched, and eyes half -blind with 
tears, 
Just so, I watch, and wait for you today. 

Sometimes the road is set with many snares. 
And while the night comes down, so lone and 
drear ; 

Burdened with hunger, and the daily cares. 
My heart-strings quiver with a nameless fear. 

Yet this I know, somewhere my hope-star gleams. 
Somewhere, the sunshine bursts through clouds 
of gray, 

Sometime, together, we will count our dreams, 
Altho' I wait, in vain, for you today. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 69 



WORLD-WISE 

It may be the light in your wonderful eyes, 

It may be the joy of your smile, 
Or the music which lies in your voice, world-wise, 

That is making my life worth while. 
Or maybe the sound of your laughter brings 
Music, again, from my heart's worn strings. 

Maybe I've waited for years and years. 

The joy of your hand's caress; 
Till the burden of sorrow and burning tears 

Is exchanged for the happiness 
That comes when I dream that you are near, 
And I reach out, so often, to find you. Dear. 

Maybe, sometime you will go, again 

Out over life's rough way ; 

Taking the hope of the years to come, 

Leaving just shadows grey — 

Taking the light of those eyes, world-wise, 

Closing the gateway of paradise. 



70 HOUSEOFLOVE 

LOYALTY 

Love is not love, if it stands not the test 
Of treason bitter or of doubt and fears 

Which fight for mastery in the human breast, 
And leave the eyes dry of their scalding tears — 

Just when it seems the fight is almost lost, 

When bruised and sore, it's then v^e need love 
most. 

Love is not love, when in the sunny days 
Of golden summer it walks side by side 

With us, along life's fragrant, primose ways, 
When winds are crooning and we're satisfied. 

It's when we sit alone with empty hands 

That love is love, because it understands. 

Love is not love, if when cold unbelief 

Creeps in and tries Faith's ever-bolted door, 
It stops to question if 'twere fancied grief 

When lips are numb and when the heart is 
sore : — 
'Tis when with shame, and scorn and falsehood 

cursed. 
That true love dares the world to do its worst. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 71 



LIFE'S BROKEN TOYS 



Outside ; the falling twilight dark and grey 

Peers in upon me, as I sit, alone, 
Counting the memories of the dying day. 

All that is left, which I may call my own. 

Outside ; the traffic surges to and fro, 
It moans aloud in maddening restlessness; 

Its song and laughter, mixed with bitter woe. 
And yet what matters one more sigh, or less? 

What matters one more stifling pain. 

Or one more ache to numb the cringing heart. 
What of the loss, or what of all the gain 

Before we smile and suffer and depart? 

Sometimes the heart longs for the soothing balm 
Of gentle words so like a sweet caress. 

Out of life's storms it brings a summer calm 
The toil-worn soul to comfort and to bless. 

Sometimes we wait and look and long in vain, 
Beside the ashes of our life's dead hope, 

As, with our eyes half-blind with gripping pain, 
With laggard steps and empty hands we grope. 



12 HOUSEOFLOVE 

Wait! all alone, beside a hearthstone cold, 
Praying for naught, except f orgetf ulness ; 

While in our arms life's shattered toys we hold, 
Dry-eyed and hungry with the loneliness. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 73 

WHERE FOOTPRINTS NEVER TURN BACK 

Swing your pack on your shoulder, boy, and come 

along with me. 
To the end o' day where the shadows play and 

the whole wide world is free, 
Let's go out where the skies are blue and the frost 

tang in the air; 
Where hate is new, where hearts are true, and life 

is free from care. 

Let's tramp on with a laugh and song, or the joy 

of a spoken jest, 
As the red blood strains through the tingling 

veins; with hope in the heaving breast. 
Let's swing into the big woods trail, with a shift 

of the heavy pack. 
Where strong hearts laugh, as weak hearts fail, 

and footsteps never turn back. 

It's luck to all who are good and kind, from the 

saint to the solemn priest; 
It's Heaven before, and Hell behind — and the 

smell of a camp-fire feast ; 
So it's out, and on where nerve and brawn, count 

more than a sodden brain. 
Where the true heart hates the Devil's spawn that 

gloats o'er its filthy gain. 



74 HOUSE OFLOVE 

So swing your pack to your bending back, and 

come along with me, 
Where hearts are true and skies are blue as ever 

skies could be. 
Where the chest expands with the love of God and 

souls are true and tried ; 
Where night brings sleep on the dew-kissed sod, 

and a man dies satisfied. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 75 

THE RAINBOW'S END 

The rainbow's end dips low adown to the mysti- 
cal land of dreams, 

Through the rose twilight and the death-black 
night where a wandering lone star gleams, 

The rainbow's end leads on, and on, with never 
a stop to rest, 

O'er dreary days, and thorny ways — with life at 
its very best; 

Days of toil in the blinding heat. 

Nights of rest when rest is sweet. 

The rainbow ends where the blue sky bends above 

all its treasured gold. 
And we follow in vain, thro' the sun and rain till 

our hearts are strangely old; 
It is ever ahead where the sky bends low — only a 

little way. 
Ever ahead where the angels spread the clouds 

at the close of day — 
Ever ahead where sunset's gleams 
Turn to gold in the Land of Dreams. 

The rainbow's end is the end of all that we dream 

of day by day. 
It holds the gold of life and love — the treasure 

for which we pray; 



76 HOUSEOFLOVE 

It holds the joys of our childish hopes, the harvest 

of riper years, 
It holds the half-filled cup of Fate, so salt with 

the brine of tears. 
It covers the gold that we never find, 
But, Oh! the rainbow is ever kind. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 77 

WORLD'S END 

Come on, my boy, let's go ! let's go ! 
Where the daisies nod and the breezes blow. 
Where the white clouds rest on the silent hills, 
And nature's voice the tired heart thrills; 
Where the granite peaks their tall spires lift, 
To the azure sky, and the white clouds' rift, 
Where the forest sleeps, and the big trees rise 
To the very gates of Paradise. 

Come on! come on! let's get away 
From the toil and heat of the weary day, 
Let's wander on, where the wild rose bends 
To the falling dew, and the white road ends 
In a pathless ocean of rolling green. 
With nothing but sunshine spread between 
Our eyes and Heaven, and rest awhile 
With the whole wide world in a happy smile. 

Come wash your face in the morning dew 
Let's fill our hearts with thoughts so true, 
Let's leave behind, life's heavy load. 
And sing, as we swing in the open road. 
We will soon forget that hearts may break. 
That hands grow weary and tired eyes ache. 
Come on! let's hurry and slip away, 
For it won't be long till the end o' day. 



78 HOUSEOFLOVE 

JUST YOU 

Just you ! 

After the burdens of the long, long day 

Have slipped from shoulders that are often sore, 

Smiling at me in your dear, gentle way. 

Waiting, at twilight, by the open door — 

Ah, this is joy. 

Just you! 

After the sunlight's olden, golden gleam 
Changes to crimson in the far-flung west. 
Beside me, Dear, the while I sit and dream, 
Just you, beside me while I sleep, and rest. 
Ah, this is peace. 

Just you! 

When all the world in velvet darkness hides, 

And distant star-lights faintly gleam and glow, 

To make a home where my glad heart abides. 

The only home my heart can ever know. 

Ah, this is life. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 79 

TENNESSEE 

Dear Old Sunny Tennessee, 

Say! it's good enough for me, 

With its everlasting hills. 

And its lazy water mills. 

There's the dear old orchard swing, 

Where the red-nosed Juners cling. 

And you get so close to God 

In the fields of golden-rod, 

Get a peep at Heaven, too, 

Through the sky that's always blue. 

Down in Dear Old Tennessee, 

Say ! it always seems to me 

That God dropped down from the skies 

Just a chunk o' paradise; 

Dropped it down and let it rest 

Just the way we love it best. 

Didn't have to change it, none. 

And I sometimes think the sun 

Wouldn't shine a bit, you see, 

If it wasn't for Tennessee. 

Here the summers are the best. 
And the brown thrush on her nest 
Sings the sweetest ; and the breeze 
Whispers softest in the trees; 
Here the sunset's golden gleam 



80 HOUSE OF LOVE 

Is just like a poet's dream, 
Pink and crimson, gold and blue. 
Angels paint it all for you : 
God is surely good to me, 
'Cause He gave me Tennessee. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 81 



OVER THE TEA-CUPS 

There's many a dream that comes and goes, 
Mixed up with our secret wishes ; 
Whether we're walking in rose-strewn paths, 
Or whether we're washing dishes: 
And often, you know, our dreams come true, 
The ones we have long been dreaming. 
Over the plates all rimmed with blue. 
And the tea-cups white and gleaming. 

Life's long path is a winding road. 
All lined with thorns and roses; 
But there's many tales of love that pass 
O'er the tea-cups, 'neath our noses. 
So, why should we fret at the daily task 
O'er cups and plates, clean, gleaming? 
For, often, we get more than we ask. 
In the long, long days of dreaming. 



82 HOUSE OF LOVE 

FAITH 

Faith is a candle that doth brightly glow 
Along the path our erring feet must go, 
It lights the way when hope's faint star has set, 
When all is dark, and erstwhile friends forget. 
We reach our hands, and turn our straining eyes 
From noonday glare unto the evening skies. 

Faith is a lighthouse on the rock-ribbed shore, 
Where bleak winds moan and angry breakers 

roar ; 
And, as our ships come in from alien lands, 
God of the deep. He sees and understands. 
And though our ships may never all return. 
Faith, like a beacon, will forever burn. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 83 



THE NOWHERE LAND 



So often we say, as the days slip by, "tomorrow I 
will you know" 

When some task lies, before our eyes, in the path 
our feet must go, 

But Tomorrow is only the sign that points to the 
hills so far away. 

Over the winding road that leads from the Valley 
of Yesterday: 

It leads from the Valley of Yesterday, to the No- 
where Land which lies 

Beyond the rim of the purple dawn, and the gray 
of the twilight skies. 

We could dry the tear on the withered cheek of 
somebody's mother, today. 

We could ease the pain of a hungry heart — "To- 
morrow I will", we say. 

We could give a smile and a warm hand-clasp to 
some one who needs it so. 

For there's never a chance to do it, when the 
Master calls us to go. 

There's never a chance to wander back, o'er the 
far-dim road that lies 

Out, and into the No-Where Land, 'neath the arch 
of the evening skies. 



84 HOUSEOFLOVE 

For the Land of Yesterday is filled with the 

ghosts of vain regret, 
And though our eyes are blind with tears, their 

faces we can't forget; 
Tomorrow leads like a will-o-the-wisp o'er ways 

so strange and new. 
Till we oft forget in our selfish joy, the kindness 

we ought to do ; 
So we dance along in our childish glee, o'er the 

No-Where road, you know. 
With never a thought of the chances lost, until 

we are called to go. 

There's many a time our hands could help some 

struggling one to rise, 
There's many a time we could kiss away the tears 

from burning eyes; 
There's many a one who has strayed afar from 

the road so hard and straight. 
We could smile, and help them upon their feet, 

the help that comes too late, 
But we wander along, o'er the No-Where Road, 

like children at wanton play. 
Till The Father calls us, one by one, at the end of 

life's short day. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 85 

LIFE'S SIMPLE THINGS 

It's just the simple songbirds that sing the sweet- 
est lays, 

It's just the simple flowers that frame life's dear- 
est ways; 

It's just the simple hearth-stone that holds the 
brightest fires, 

It's just the simple words of love that bring the 
heart's desires. 

It's just the faint reflection of lights that glance 

and gleam 
Through little cottage windows, that sets the soul 

a-dream ; 
It's just the laughter dancing in the eyes so dear 

and blue, 
That fills the days with gladness and helps us to 

be true. 

It's just the white smoke curling above the whis- 
pering trees, 

That makes us think of Heaven, at night upon 
our knees. 

It's just the childish laughter — the noise of baby 
feet. 

That plays upon the heart-strings, and makes our 
toiling sweet. 



86 HOUSE OF LOVE 

It's just a little hand-clasp, the faith that all is 
right, 

That makes the whole world better — the weary- 
burden light; 

It's just the simple trusting of hearts that love us 
best, 

That makes the home nest happy when the sun- 
set tints the west. 



HOUSE OF LOVE 87 

ROBERT O'BRIEN 

Oh! Robert O'Brien you're a dear little tot, 
With your dimples and laughing blue eyes ; 

I'm sure that the angels of Heaven forgot 
To fasten the gates to the skies, 

And so you slipped through, as you wandered at 
play, 

And came down to earth on the great Milky Way. 

The wisdom of ages, it seems, I can see 
In the face which you lift up to mine ; 

And your innocent voice as you laugh in your glee. 
Is the echo of music divine. 

I wonder if God doesn't miss you, each day. 

Since you stole through the gate, down the white. 
Milky Way? 

Oh ! Robert O'Brien, the pathway of life 

Lies winding and long o'er the hill. 
It's rocky sometimes, and shadowed with strife. 

And the winds often blow strong and chill; 
The sunset is far, and the road often bends, 
E'er you reach the place where Hope's rainbow 
ends. 

The way may be long to the country that lies 
Far out, past the gates of the west, 



88 HOUSEOFLOVE 

By the gold of the sunshine, the blue of the skies 

May the path of your footsteps be blest : 
For oft, little boy, I wish you were mine, 
With your arms, and your kisses — Robert 
O'Brien. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 89 



PARTED WAYS 

With you out there in the world somewhere, 

Out there where I cannot see 

Through the blinding tears, and the mist of years 

That come twixt you, and me ; 

And me alone in my place, somewhere — 

Away, where you cannot hear 

The prayers I say, that the Dear Lord may 

Send the roses for you, my Dear. 

With you out there on the path, which Fate 

Has marked for your wandering feet. 

And me in the place v/hich Fate has willed, 

Our pathways may never meet; 

But you with the love the world can give, 

And me with my cup of rue. 

Can each hold the thought that God up there 

Keeps watch twixt me and you. 

,/, 
With you out there; when evening comes, 
And the firelight's dancing glow. 
Falls on your cheek; like the soft caress 
Of a hand that you used to know. 
Will life lose some of its dreariness, 
And lighten the load you bear. 
If you know there is one who prays for you, 
Out in the world — somewhere? 



90 HOUSEOFLOVE 



JUST FOR FUN 



Just a touch of your lips with their maddening 

wine, 
Just a glimpse of your eyes looking deep into 

mine ; 
Just a smile, and a kiss just for fun — ^that is 

all— 
For each life must taste of the wormwood and 

gall. 

Just a laugh and a jest on your half -open lips, 
And a saucy handshake from your gloved finger 

tips. 
Just a pain in the heart, when the grey shadows 

fall. 
And a grave in the past — Just for fun: that is 

all. 



HOUSEOFLOVE 91 



WHY DON'T YOU COME? 



Why don't you come ? The sunset clouds are grey, 
The twilight star gleams bright in western 
skies ; 

The shadows creep, like children home from play, 
The while I watch with eager, aching eyes — 

Watch for you. Dear, why don't you ever come? 

I wait, alone, here in our little home. 

Why don't you come? The lamp burns soft and 
low, 
I've pulled the curtains 'round the window- 
seat; 
All day I've waited, and I want you so ! 

I long to hear the sound of your dear feet — 
Your chair is empty in the ffre's dim light. 
Why don't you come? I need you, so, tonight. 



92 HOUSE OFLOVE 

SOMEWHERE ! SOMEHOW ! SOMETIME ! 

Somewhere! sometime! somehow! 
Our paths will meet again, 
I do not know, Fate does not show. 
Perchance through toil and pain, 
Maybe dark pathways wait our feet, 
And yet I make this vow. 
I will be yours until we meet 
Somewhere, sometime, somehow. 

Somehow! somewhere! sometime! 

The weary stretch of years 

Can make no less the heart's distress, 

Or dry its flood of tears. 

I 'oft shall feel your perfumed breath 

From some far, sunny clime; 

You'll come to me in life, in death. 

Somehow, somewhere, sometime. 

Sometime! somehow! somewhere! 
From out life's twilight land 
Your path will lead, for I shall need 
The comfort of your hand. 
What God may take, or Fate may give, 
I do not know, nor care ; 
You will be mine while love shall live. 
Sometime, somehow, somewhere. 



BRAR OF cor CRESS 



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